Underwater macro photography through a dome port
On my recent trip to dive Milford Sound, New Zealand and Adelaide, Australia I wanted to travel light. So in addition to cameras and lenses, I only brought my underwater camera housing, two underwater strobes and my compact dome port.
Even though it was mainly a hiking and wildlife trip with my wife, we did plan for a few dives, mainly to find the famous leafy sea dragon.
Red crab, Edithburgh Jetty, Adelaide. D300 + Nikon 60mm lens, dome port. F20, 1/80th
I did want to take some underwater macro photos of Adelaide, so I decided to use my Nikon 60mm lens behind my dome port.
I was very pleased with the results. Also I lost 25% magnification that a flat port gives you due to the refractive index of water, I never missed the magnification. The colors of my underwater photos and sharpness were great. I also found the combination worked better for photographing fish since I could get closer to them. And finally, using a dome port is theoretically supposed to result in less chromatic aberration.
Next time you want to photograph fish and large nudibranchs, give your macro lens a try behind a dome port!
Underwater macro photographs, behind a dome port
All photos are with the Nikon 60mm lens, Sea & Sea compact dome port
Featherduster worm closeup. F18, 1/80th
Nudibranch, F20, 1/250th
Diver behind a featherduster worm. F9, 1/160th
Fish swimming past colorful jetty pilings. F8, 1/125th
There's a one major disadvantage in using macro behind dome port - you can scratch it very easy. That was what I've done :(
Namgul - I'm very sorry about your scratches. That's a great point - and that is why I try to concentrate on photographing fish and other subjects that I don't need full magnification with, when I'm using the macro lens in a dome port. Small subjects in rocky areas are best photographed underwater with a flat port.
Scott Gietler Owner/Editor, Underwater Photography Guide
Great article. I'll definitely try this. Thanks!
Your very welcome Enje - Scott
Very informative, I am now, after the trip to Anilao, looking into an upgrade.
>> RSM - you're very welcome!
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